Vitaly Churkin

UNITED NATIONS, December 31. /TASS/. The settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has reached an impasse as it has been monopolized by the United States, Russia’s envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin has said.

The UN Security Council failed on Tuesday to vote in favor of a resolution on creating a Palestinian state and ending the Israeli occupation. The document did not receive the majority support and was vetoed by the US that criticized it as being untimely and unconstructive.

“We cannot share the objections of those who believe that the draft resolution undermined the prospects for the negotiation process,” Churkin said, adding that this year has witnessed how the process reached a deadlock as the Middle East Quartet, which brings together the US, UN, EU and Russia, was replaced by Washington's monopoly.

The diplomat said this is a “strategic mistake” and also criticized the failure to support Russia’s proposals to holding a brainstorming session as part of the UN Security Council to give a boost to the negotiation process and sending the council’s mission to the Middle East.

Churkin expressed regret at the UN Security Council’s failure to adopt the draft resolution on Palestine, which he said was set to “reinforce the generally accepted international and legal basis” for the Middle East peace process.

“The UN Security Council’s failure to act towards this direction dooms the situation to a dangerous status quo which one cannot tolerate. It’s evident that just benevolent intentions are not enough,” he said.

The diplomat said the active participation of the UN Security Council and the Quartet in the Middle East peace process, joined by the League of Arab States would give a new impetus to the effort to achieve peace.

Churkin warned that the conflict in the region is deepening as the construction of the illegal settlements on the occupied territories, including in East Jerusalem, continues thus “undermining the chances for fulfilling the concept of two states.”